Method and apparatus for feeding web in a cigar machine



Oct. 13, 1964 T. A. GODFREY METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR FEEDING WEB IN A CIGAR MACHINE 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Sept. 22, 1960 mvzzvron. THOMAS A. GODFREY ATTORNEY.

Oct. 13, 1964 T. A. GODFREY METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR FEEDING WEB IN A CIGAR MACHINE 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Sept. 22, 190

. INVENTOR.

THOMAS A. GODFREY ATTORN EV Oct. 13, 1964 T. A. GODFREY METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR FEEDING WEB IN A CIGAR MACHINE Filed Sept. 22, 1960 5 Sheets-Sheet s Y M 5 4 m w a m& & w Q 3* mm mw m I 2N cw QN RR Q 3 :N- N 5 S RN\ v MN m v I l H M H h N W 5 .v NQ R o 8 8 mm H 5 HHMPHHHI Q? a a a 5. m T a fit w WW, 3 in 5 N ht 5K Na Oct. 13, 1964 T. A. GODFREY 7 METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR FEEDING WEB IN A CIGAR MACHINE Filed Sept. 22, 1960 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 FIG.4

INVENTOR THOMAS A.GODFREY ATTORNEY Oct. 13, 1964 T. A. GODFREY 3,152,497

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR FEEDING WEB IN A CIGAR MACHINE Filed Sept. 22, 1960 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 FIG.5

INVENTOR. THOMAS A.GODFREY ATTORNEY United States Patent 3,152,497 METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR FEEDING WEB IN A CIGAR MACHINE Thomas A. Godfrey, Elmont, N.Y., assignor to American Machine & Foundry Company, a corporation of New Jersey Filed Sept. 22, 1950, Ser. No. 57,779 22 Claims. (Cl. 83-18) This invention relates to Web tobacco material feeds and particularly to a method and apparatus for feeding Web tobacco material to a cigar machine, for example, wherein the web tobacco material is used as a binder or wrapper for cigars.

While this invention is useful as either a binder or Wrapper feed, it is especially designed and intended for use in conjunction with the wrapper cutting station of a cigar machine. Fine cigar wrappers must have an irregular conformation best formed by a die cut, and it is obvious, of course, that where such a die cut is desired for a binder the invention would be equally useful.

Furthermore, cigar wrappers are generally wrapped spirally in a stretched condition around cigars so that upon the completion of the wrapping operation the wrapper tension exerts a compacting effect on the cigar and the wrapper presents a smooth surface, both being desirable characteristics of a cigar. This invention is particularly useful in conjunction with cigar making machines wherein such stretched condition of the wrapper is desired, in that predetermined lengths of tobacco web material are automatically stretched and delivered to a die cutting station, and after being die cut the formed wrappers are delivered to the cigar rolling station in stretched condition. Heretofore, the web stretching step has been performed manually. The present invention dispenses with such manipulation and the undesirable non-uniformity of the degree of stretch attendant thereto.

The feeding and stretching of lengths of tobacco web material from a continuous supply, the severance of stretched web lengths and the delivery thereof to a die cutting station, thence to a cigar rolling station is accomplished automatically by the present invention.

It is an object of the invention to provide a method and apparatus for feeding a continuous web of tobacco material to a die cutter to form a shaped web to be used in the manufacture of a cigar.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a method and apparatus for feeding a length of such web material from a continuous supply, severing a leading portion of said material and depositing it atop a cutting die of a cigar machine.

Still another object is to provide a method and apparatus for feeding a web of tobacco material from a continuous supply, simultaneously stretching said web a predetermined extent and maintaining such stretched condition in the leading portion of the web as it is severed and deposited across a die cutter of a cigar machine.

It is also an object of the invention to provide means for suitably holding and supporting an advanced length or" the Web, delivered from a continuous supply, in a stretched condition during the severance of a leading portion thereof, and for suitably holding and supporting the remaining portion of said advanced length in a stretched condition.

Yet another object of the invention is to provide means for positioning a severed length of Web over a cutting die in a preselected angular position.

A further object of the invention is to provide means for automatically stopping the apparatus of the present invention upon exhaustion of the continuous supply of web material, or upon the accidental parting of the web or improper feed thereof within the apparatus.

A still further object of the invention is to provide means for removing excess: scrap from the bed of the cutting die of a cigar machine and also provide scavenging means to clear scrap from about the die.

It is a further object of the invention to obviate the necessity of continuous attendance at the web feeding and die cutting station of a cigar machine by incorporating in such machine mechanism adapted to accomplish the foregoing functions and objects in timed relationship.

A further object of the invention is: to provide an improved method and apparatus for forming and/ or incorporating shaped wrappers or binders. in a machine made cigar.

With the foregoing and other objects in view, the method of the present invention consists in intermittently and positively feeding a continuous web of tobacco material from a source of supply, positively drawing the leading edge of the tobacco web material in the direction of feed in synchronized intermittent movement past a web severing station at a slightly greater speed than the web is fed whereby to impart a stretch to the web, severing a leading portion of the web between said movements while maintaining the stretch in said severed portion and in the remainder of the web, and then delivering the stretched length of severed web to a die cutting station simultaneously with the intermittent stretching feed of the remainder of continuous web from the source of supply. The portion of the web extending from the web feed is maintained in a stretched condition at all times, as are also the severed lengths of web through the die cutting step and delivery to the cigar wrapping station.

The apparatus of the present invention includes a pair of feed rollers which are intermittently operated to deliver successive portions or" web material in preselected feed lengths along a delivery table having means for applyring suction to the underside of the leading edge of the web between intermittent feed movements of the web. A web transfer table is positioned forwardly of the delivery t-able and is also provided with suction means for holding severed sections of web material thereon between feed movements of the web, and cutting means disposed between the two tables are adapted to sever the lead-ing portion of the web material between the two tables when the intermittent feed is at a standstill.

A carriage mounted for reciprocation in the direction of web feed above the two tables carries forwardly and rearwardly disposed suction heads which are adapted to seize the web material from the transfer and delivery tables during the feed movement of the web material, the rear suction head being adapted to pick up a leading edge of web material from the delivery table to pull a leading portion of the web over the transfer table, and the forward suction head be'mg adapted to simultaneously pick up a severed length of web material from the transfer table and serve it to a cutting die on a wrapper cutting die turret.

The suction tables and the carriage suction heads are connected to a source of suction provided with valve means for selectively supplying suction to the carriage su tion heads or the suction tables.

Only the carriage suction heads are supplied with suction during the forward movement of the carriage which is synchronized with the feed of the web material onto the delivery table. During the retraction of the carriage, between feeding movements of the web material, only the tables are supplied with suction.

As the carriage moves forward, the rear suction. box seizes the leading edge of web material from the delivery table and draws the leading portion of the web over the transfer table at a speed slightly greater than the feed from the feed rollers whereby the web is stretched. Simul taneously, a severed length of web material on the transfer table is seized by the forward suction head on the carriage and conveyed and served to a die in web serving position on a duplex wrapper cutting die turret. At the limiting forward position of the carriage, suction is supplied to the two suction tables and cut off from the carriage suction heads, whereby the severed web length is transferred to and held by the turret die which is disposed in a suction bed, and the stretched length of web material extending from the feed means over the tables is suction gripped by the latter. Thereupon the cutting means sever the leading portion of web material, the carriage returns to its retracted position, suction is admitted to the carriage suction heads and cut off from the tables, and the sequence again repeated, the extending and severed lengths of web material being picked up in stretched condition by the carriage suction heads. The wrapper cutting die turret is adapted to be intermittently rotated in synchronism with retraction of the carriage, whereby the web served die delivers the web held by suction in stretched condition to a wrapper cutting position, and a clean die is presented at web serving position.

In order to detect the absence of tobacco web material in the feed thereof through the machine, a reciprocable feeler rod is cam actuated in timed relation with the web feed to intermittently contact the upper face of the web above an opening in the forward end of the transfer table when the web feeding mechanism is at standstill. The feeler rod is yieldably mounted in an oscillatable support and will stop upon contacting a web. However, if no web is present the feeler rod will continue through tl e opening in the table, tip a mercury switch mounted on the rod and thereby break the circuit of the motor drive of the feeding apparatus.

The angular placement of a severed section of stretched web over a wrapper cutting die in web serving position on a duplex wrapper cutting die turret of a cigar machine is accomplished by biasingly pivoting the forward suction. head on the carriage toward a track extending in the direction of carriage travel and adjustable through an angular range relative to the direction of carriage travel, a roller mounted on the suction head in biasing engagement with the track adapting the forward suction head to be oscillated about its pivot, if desired, by proper angular adjustment of the track relative to the direction of carriage travel, between retracted web pick-up position above the transfer table to web serving position above the turret die.

The dies on the intermittently rotatable turret are adapted to sweep under a stationary suction cleaning nozzle when returning from a wrapper cutting position to a web serving position, whereby to be scavenged of wrapper scrap left from the cutting operation. A rubber scraper mounted on the suction nozzle rubs the die shell to loose wrapper scrap to facilitate sucking up the latter.

The objects and advantages of the present invention, as well as the features of the method and the construction, arrangement and combination of the parts of the apparatus thereof, will be fully understood from the following description of a preferred embodiment with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

FIGURES 1 and 2, joined at the line A-A, comprise a front elevation of the web feed of the resent invention illustrated in conjunction with a duplex wrapper cutting die turret of a cigar machine;

FIGURE 3 is a plan view of the same;

FIGURE 4 is an enlarged partial transverse section, taken on the line 44 of FIGURE 1, illustrating the web severing mechanism and the web feed carriage;

FIGURE is an enlarged partial end elevation, taken on the line 55 of FIGURE 1, showing the web testing rod and the die turret scavenging suction nozzle;

FIGURE 6 is an enlarged front elevation of the suction head feed carriage illustrated in conjunction with the suction tables and the web severing mechanism; and

FIGURE 7 is a plan View, taken on the line 77 of 6, FIGURE 6, of the suction tables in conjunction with web severing mechanism.

With reference to FIGURES 1 to 3, a continuous wrapper web W is fed from a reel R over a guide roller 1 and a web tension roller 2 by means of and between upper and lower feed rollers 3 and 4- which are intermittently rotated for unidirectional feed of the web W onto a horizontal table or delivery plate 5.

The guide roller 5 is mounted on a fixed arm 23 extending from the reel bracket 15 and the tension roller 2 is mounted at one end of a lever 6 the fulcrum 7 of which is located in a bracket 8 mounted on the bed plate 9 of the cigar machine frame 10. The other end of lever 6 is provided with a counterblance 11 which may be adjusted to the minimum tension required to be exerted on the web W by the tensioning roller 2.

A lever and strap brake 12 is provided for the web reel R and includes a strap 13 disposed around the reel shaft 14 with one end anchored at 16 to the reel bracket 15 and the other end anchored to one arm of a bell crank 17 fulcrumed at 18 to the reel bracket 15. The other arm of the lever 17 is pivoted at 18 to the upper end of an adjustable two-part bar 19 the lower part 29 of which is slotted to slidably receive a pin 21 fixed to the roller arm of tension roller lever 6, an a tension spring 22 is mounted between the said tension roller arm pin 21 and the pivot connection 18 between the bell crank 17 and the bar 19.

As seen in FIGURE 1, the web W is effectively braked against unwinding from the reel R by reason of the pull exerted by tensioning roller 2 through the tension spring 22 on the lever 17 of the wheel brake 12. As the feed rollers 3 and 4 are actuated to feed web material W, the web W extending from the reel R will be taken up and raise tensioning roller 2 (the tension spring 22 maintaining the brake on the reel) until the tension roller arm 6 abuts the bottom 24 of the upper part 25 of the adjustable arm 19, and, since the upper bar 25 is positively coupled to the reel brake lever 17, the brake 12 is released and permits unwinding of the web W from the reel R under the action of web feed rollers 3 and 4, the tensioning roller 2 remaining in a floating condition. In the event the web breaks or is fully unwound from the reel, the tensioning roller 2 drops, pivoting its lever 6 to actuate a microswitch 26 by means of a lever extension 27 whereby to stop the machine.

The web feed rollers are intermittently rotated for feed of the web in one direction onto the table plate 5 by means of an oscillatable gear sector 28 fixed to a shaft 29 provided with a fixed arm 30 which is pivotally connected at to the upper end of an adjustable connecting rod 31, the lower end of which is pivotally and adjustably connected at 36 to an actuating lever 32 fulcrumed at 33 in a bracket 34 on the machine frame It The lower end of the connecting rod 31 is adjustable in a slot 37 in lever 32 in accordance with the recurrent len th of feed desired between the web feed rollers 3 and 4. The upper end of the connecting rod 31 is provided with a slot 39 and the gear sector arm 36 is pivotally supported in the upper end of the slot by a tension spring 4d, this particular arrangement being for a purpose to be described hereinafter.

The lever 32 is oscillated by means of a cam lever 38 which is integral with and projects from the hub of the actuating lever 32 (FIGURE 2). Cam lever 38 carries a cam roller 41 which engages a suitable cam track 42 of a drum cam 43 mounted on the main cam shaft 44 of the machine.

The oscillatable gear sector 28 meshes with a gear 45 loosely mounted on a rotatable shaft 46 to which is also keyed the lower feed roller 3. A single-action clutch 47, such as a Marquette clutch or the equivalent, operatively couples the shaft 46 and the gear 45 whereby the shaft 4% is intermittently rotatable to feed the web in one direction onto the web delivery table plate 5.

To the lower feed roller drive shaft 46 is also keyed a spur gear t? which meshes with a corresponding gear 56) (FIGURE 3) keyed to a sleeve 51 to which is also secured the upper feed roller 4. Sleeve 51 is rotatably supported by a shaft 52 provided at each end with an eccentric extension 53 by means of which said shaft 52 is supported in a pair of suitable spring-loaded bearing blocks 54 slidably supported in upright lugs 55 projecting from bracket 56. One of the eccentric shaft extensions 53 is provided with a trip lever 57 employed for the purpose of lifting the upper feed roller 4 out of contact with the lower feed roller 3 to permit threading of the web W therebetween. Referring to FIGURE 1, the web threading device 58 consists of a flexible arcuate plate member 59 swingably supported beneath the rollers 3 and 4 on an arm 6th pivoted in bracket 56. Upon folding a leading edge portion of the web W around the free end of the arcuate plate 59 and swinging the same upwardly, the Web is passed between the rollers and may then be drawn through manually. Each roller 3 and 4 is provided with an adjustable scraper 61 to prevent gum from accumulating on the rollers.

The web delivery table plate 5, to which the web is fed by feed rollers 3 and 4, has a leading end portion 62 which forms the cover of and is secured to a suction chamber 63 supported from a bracket 64 secured to the bed plate 9 of the machine. That portion of the delivery table plate 5 which covers the suction chamber 63 is provided with suitable holes 65 (FIGURES 6 and 7) while the bottom of the suction chamber 63 is connected by a suitable hose 66 to a hollow stand 67 mounted on the bed plate 9 of the machine. The lower portion of the hollow stand 67 is provided with an outlet 69 (FIGURES l and 4) which is coupled by a hose 68 to the T outlet 70 of a suction box 71 connected by a suitable hose 72 to a suction distributing housing 73 supported by and suitably secured to the bed plate 9 of the machine. The suction may be supplied to the housing '73 from a suitable source (not shown) through a duct 74.

A horizontal web transfer table plate 75 is located forwardly of the web delivery plate 5 in alignment therewith and is longitudinally adjustable with its rear edge being slightly spaced from the forward edge of plate 5 to define a passageway 76 therebetween (FIGURE 6) for web severing means to be hereinafter described.

The plate 75 is provided with suitable holes 78 and forms the cover of and is secured to a lower suction chamber '77 formed as the top portion of the hollow stand 67, mounted on the machine bed plate 9 and connected to the suction box 71 as described hereinabove.

Directly above the suction tables 5 and 75 and longitudinally reciprocable thereof is mounted a carriage assembly 75 comprising a forward suction head 80 and a rear suction head 81A supported from a carriage block 81 equipped with linear ball bearings and slidably supported for lengthwise reciprocation of the suction tables 5 and 75 on two spaced horizontal guide rods 82, the rods being supported at one end in bracket 53 and at the other end in bracket 84.

The suction heads 80 and 81A are respectively provided with bottom plates 85 and 86 (FIG. 6) parallel to and slightly spaced above the suction tables 5 and 75, plate 85 being provided with a plurality of holes 87 and the plate 86 being similarly perforated. Suction head 59 is coupled by a hose 88 to the suction box 7 t at suction box opening 89, and suction so supplied to suction head 80 is admitted to suction head 81 by a hose connection 90.

Carriage suction head 8t is pivotally supported for horizontal swinging movement and vertical reciprocation beneath the carriage block 81 on a vertical shaft 91 slidably mounted in the bearing block 81 and biased in top position by a compression spring 92 working over the shaft 91 between the top of the carriage block 81 and a cap 93 on the shaft. The suction head St) is provided with a guide lug 54 (FIGS. 3 and 5) which mounts a roller 55 which engages an elongated angularly adjustable track 56 mounted beneath a guide bar 97 mounted at its rear end in bracket 83 and at its forward end in bracket 34-. The rear end of track 96 is adjustably pivoted at 99 in a slot 98 in guide bar 97 and the forward end of the track is pivoted at to the end of a guide bar extension 1st slidably adjustable on the end of the guide bar and pivoted thereto at 102. A tension spring 103 connected between a lug 104 on suction head 80 and a lug on the carriage block 31 biases the suction head roller 95 against the track 96 at all times.

The rear suction head MA on carriage 79 is supported from the carriage block 81 for vertical reciprocation by means of a bracket arm 1% adjustably coupled to a horizontal rod 107 adjustably mounted in a split block 108 provided with an integral bar 109 extending through a longitudinal slot 11% in the underside of carriage block 31 and being pivoted at its remote end to the carriage block at Lil. The suction head 81A is normally biased to top position by a tension spring 112 connected between pins 113 and 114 respectively in the split block member 103 and the carriage block 831A.

The carriage assembly 79 is adapted to reciprocate longitudinally of the suction table plates 5 and 75 in timed relation with the intermittent operation of the web feed rollers 3 and 4. Referring to FIGS. 1, 3, 4, and 5, the oscillations of gear sector 25 are transmitted through a gear train 45, 1A5 and 116, the latter being keyed to a shaft M7 to which is also keyed a sprocket wheel 11?) which is coupled by an endless sprocket chain 119 to a sprocket 128 loosely mounted on an adjustable shaft 121 mounted on a bracket 122 (FIG. 5) fixed to the forward end of the carriage guide rods 82. The carriage is adjustably connected to the chain by means of a bracket 123 extending from the carriage bearing block 81 and coupled at 1241 to the upper run of the chain. Obviously, the oscillation of gear sector 28 will reciprocate the carriage '79 through the kinematic train just described, the forward movement of the carriage being synchronized with the web feeding movement of the feed rollers 3 and d, and the carriage being retracted during standstill of the feed rollers.

An important feature of the present invention is the provision of means for imparting a preselected degree of stretch to web material as it is intermittently delivered from the feed rollers in recurrent preselected lengths, and to maintain the stretched condition of the web during transfer of severed portions thereof by means of the carriage to the web serving position of a wrapper cutting die on the die turret of a cigar machine. Accordingly, as the leading end of web material W, which is suctionally held to the forward end 65 of web delivery table 5, is picked up by the rear suction head 81 of carriage 79 and pulled forward (in synchronism with the intermittent feed of the web W from the feed rollers 3 and a and over the web transfer table 75, the carriage moves forward at a slightly greater speed than the feed of the web from the feed rollers to impart a stretch to said web. This may be accomplished by selecting appropriate gear ratios in the kinematic train of the carriage reciprocating mechanism. Thereafter the drawn web material is transferred back to the suction tables and suctio-nally held thereon in stretched condition. As the carriage is reciprocated to retracted position the web is severed between the transfer and delivery tables, the severed portion being maintained in stretched condition by suction of the transfer table, and the remaining web portion being held in stretched condition by reason of the suc-tional grip of the forward end portion of said remaining web by the forward end of the delivery table and the grip of the stationary feed rollers on the rear portion of the delivered web. Thereafter, as the carriage again reciprocates forwardly to pick up the leading edge of the web material from the delivery table and pull and stretch said web over the transfer table as just described, the previously severed length of web material is picked up from the table by the forward suction head 8i of the carriage and, while suctionally maintaining the severed length of web material in stretched condition, the forward suction head delivers said length of web to the suction bed of a die in web serving position on the wrapper cutting die turret of a cigar machine, where the stretched length of web is transferred in such condition to the suction die, said web being suctionally maintained in stretched condition as the die turret rotates the served die to wrapper cutting position. After the wrapper cutting operation, the stretched and formed wrapper may be ransferred to a suction carrier and delivered in stretched condition to a cigar bunch wrapping station.

The web severing mechanism includes a pair of trimmer knives 125 and 126 which are disposed in the vertical plane of the passageway 76 between tables and '75 and pivoted face to face on a spring loaded stud 127 secured in a bracket 123 adjustably mounted on a slotted bar 129 secured to brackets 64 supported on the bed plate 9. The knives can be adjusted to any width of web W. The knives 125 and 126 are respectively provided with bifurcated extensions 13% and 131 (PEG. 4) beyond the pivot 127, and are operated as shears by means of rollers 132 and 33 disposed Within the bifurcations, said rollers being separated by a spacer 134 on a stud 135' and adapted to reciprocate within the bifurcations. The roller stud 135 is mounted in one end of and reciprocated by an arm 13d adjustably secured at its other end to an oscillatable rod 137 rotatably mounted in brackets 64 and connected by a fixed arm 133 pivoted at its outer end at 138 to the top of an adjustable rod 149, the lower end of the rod 14% being pivoted at 141 to an arm 142 integral with a hub 143 rotatably mounted on a shat i 54 supported in an extension 145 of bracket 37. The arm 1 22 is spring biased to cause another arm lid-6, integral with hub 143 and carrying a roller 147, to dispose the roller in the path of a tripping earn 148 mounted on the web feed drum cam 43, the two cams being so related that the web is severed upon the return movement of the carriage 79 while the feed rollers 3 and t and the delivered web W are at standstill. The rear suction head MA on carriage 79 passes between the cutter knives 1253 and 126 after they have severed the web W and are in open position.

The means for selectively applying suction riage suction heads and the suction tables includes a plate valve 149 (FIG. 4) slidable in a slot 159 in the wall of suction box 71 and extending transversely of the hose openings 70 and $9 in the suction box. The gate or plate valve 149 is provided with openings 151 and E52, whereby with the gate 14d in top position only the lower outlet 89 is open which provides suction for the carriage suction heads, whereas in bottom position the suction to the carriage suction heads is cut off and only the suction tables are supplied with suction through suction box part 7%). The particular arrangement insures that suction will be supplied to the tables before it is out ch? from the carriage heads, and vice versa, so that when web portions are being transferred between the carriage suction heads and the suction tables, the retention of the stretched condtion of the web material is assured.

The valve gate 149 is pivoted at 153 to an adjustable rod 154 (FIG. 4) which, referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, is pivoted at 155 to one arm of a bell crank 156 fulcrumed on shaft 144 and biased by means of spring 157 to engage a roller 158 against a suction valve cam 159 mounted on the web feed cam drum 43. The suction transfer between carriage heads and tables is operatively timed to occur at the forward and retracted positions of the carriage above the suction tables. An adjustable stop screw 16% prevents the cam roller 158 from falling into the cam track 42 when passing over it.

In describing the operation of the web feed illustrated in the drawings, assume that a predetermined length of to the carweb strip S has been fed onto the transfer table plate (FIG. 5) and has just been severed from the rest of web W by means of cutting knives and 126. At this moment the severed strip S is still held in stretched condition by suction applied through the holes 73 of plate 75 from the suction chamber 77, the gate valve plate 149 being positioned accordingly. Also, the leading edge of unsevered web material W is similarly suctionally held by the suction end 63 of delivery table 5, the unsevered web material W being stretched back to the feed rollers 3 and 4 which are stationary. Rotation of the main cam shaft 4 causes suction to be applied to the carriage suction heads 8t) and 81A and removed from the suction tables 5 and 75. At this moment the carriage 79 is dwelling in retracted position with its suction heads 30 and 81A disposed above the respective tables 75 and 5. An arm 161, fixed to a shaft 162 and rotatable in carriage bearing block extensions 1.64 and M5, is abutted and pivoted by an adjustable stop screw 164, which has the effect of pivoting lever 165 against the cap 93 of shaft 91 in bearing block 81, thus urging the forward suction head 8t! downward against the bias of shaft spring 92 and into close relation with the severed Web strip S to suctionally pick same up from the transfer table 75. Similarly, a lever extension 366 terminating in an adjustable screw M7 abuts the cap of an adjustable screw 163 in rear suction head bracket 169 to urge said suction head down to pick up the leading edge of unsevered web material W over delivery table portion 63.

Under continued rotation of the main cam shaft the carrier moves forward and the carrier suction heads rise slightly to normal position, with the rear suction box pulling and stretching the web W simultaneously delivered from the feed rollers and the forward suction head conveying a. stretched length of web S to the suction bed of a cutting die turret. As the carriage 79 reaches its forward position, an adjustable stop screw 169 mounted on a bracket 17d abuts and pivots an arm 171 secured to a rotatable shaft 172 mounted in carriage bearing body extensions 173, which shaft in turn pivots a lever arm 174 against the cap $3 of shaft 91 hearing block 81 to urge the forward suction housing down to the suction bed 175 of a wrapper cutting die 17:; on a duplex Wrapper cutting die turret 177 of a cigar machine. Similarly, a lug 1'78 fixed to shaft 172 abuts the screw rod 168 to epress rear suction head 81 down to the forward end of Web transfer table 75. At this point the suction is transferred from the carriage suction heads to the suction tables so suctionally seize the advanced uncut web to the tables and transfer the previously cut web to the suction bed of the die turret. The carriage then retracts to repeat the sequence, the leading portion of web material, advanced from the feed rolls and held suctionally to the transfer table in stretched condition, being severed.

To provide a carriage dwell at the forward position of said carriage, a lug 179 on gear sector 28 abuts an adjustable stop screw 1% whereby feeding movement of the carriage and feed rollers stops, but the main cam shaft :4 continues to rotate because the overthrow on the cam 4-3 pushes the connecting rod 31 up in the slot 39 provided in the head of the rod. The dwell is necessary to transfer the severed web from the forward suction box of the carriage to the die suction bed of the die turret.

The duplex wrapper cutting die turret 177 is of the intermittently rotating type similar to the one shown and described in US. Letters Patent 2,316,828, and is provided with diametrically disposed dies 176. Each die is mounted on a web or wrapper supporting bed 175 on which a wrapper is held by suction while being carried by the turret to wrapper cutting position, shown in the upper portion of FIG. 3, where the wrapper is cut and then transferred from the die by being lifted to a carrier head (not shown) and then held by suction to the latter during its transfer to a wrapper applying device in which it is wound on a cigar bunch. The advantage of the presthe nozzle.

cut invention in conjunction with such a die turret is that the web material is transferred to a cutting die from the carriage in stretched condition when the die is at a serving position (lower portion of FIG. 3), and the web ultimately die cut and carried in such stretched condition to the wrapper applying device of a cigar bunch.

The suction beds of the die turret are located above the suction housing '73 (FIGS. 2 and 3).

After a severed strip of stretched web material is served by the forward carriage suction head to a die in web serving position, as indicated in the lower portion of FIG. 3, the strip is suctionally held on the die head 131 and die shell 175. Thereupon, the intermittently rotating die turret rotates 180 and brings the wrapper strip carrying suction head 181 in line with a pair of reciprocating cutting rollers 182 (FIG. 3) spring mounted in brackets 133 in the manner shown and described in US. Letters Patent No. 2,405,867.

Brackets 183 are carried by a horizontal rod 185 secured to a member 186 (FIG. 3) and carried by a suitably shaped carrier bracket 187 slidably supported on a horizontal rail 18% mounted on bed plate 9. The bottom of carrier bracket 187 is secured by means of a link 191 (FIGS. 1 and 3) to an actuating arm 192 which extends from and is integral with cam lever 38 which, as previously described, represents the actuating means for the feed rollers 3 and 4 as well as the reciprocating carriage 79 which forwards cut Wrapper strip from the delivery table plate 75 to suction head 175 of the wrapper die turret 177.

Therefore, every time the feed rollers advance the web over the delivery table plate and the forward suction head 80 of carriage 79 forwards the severed web length from the transfer table plate 75 onto the suction head 175 of the turret, the cutting rollers also advance and roll over a severed length of web material which was previously deposited onto the other suction head on the turret and meanwhile revolved 180 as described above to wrapper cutting position.

After the cutting operation is accomplished by reciprocating the cutting rollers forward and back across the cutting die 176 in the onventional manner, the cut wrapper is picked up by a suitable transfer mechanism (not shown). The turret again turns 180 in the direction of the arrow in FIG. 3 to bring the suction die bed again into wrapper serving position.

During the further rotation of the suction bed with the turret, any web material pieces or clippings which remain and adhere to the die shell 175 are stripped from the latter and sucked up by a suction nozzle 192 as the shell 175 passes beneath said nozzle. A rubber scraper 193 (FIG. 5) mounted on the trailing edge of the nozzle 192 rubs the shell to loosen the clippings. The nozzle is connected by suitable tubing 194 to the suction conduit 74 in communication with the source of suction. In order to minimize the loss of suction during the dwelling periods of the die turret, the suction in nozzle 192 goes on just before the leading edge of the die shell enters the nozzle and goes off just as the trailing edge of the die shell leaves To this end the supply of suction is intermittently valved by means of a single port gate 195 slidably mounted in a complementary recess 1% around an opening 197 in the supply conduit to which the vacuum hose 194 is connected. The bottom of the gate plate 195 is pivotally connected at 197 to an adjustable connecting rod 199 pivoted at its other end to a lever 19% fulcrumed at 200 and mounting a roller 201 biasingly urged by spring 262 into engagement with a cam 2133 mounted on main cam shaft 44.

Certain wrapper designs and shapes require that the severed web material be served to and positioned on the turret die in a slight angular relation. Accordingly, the guide bar 97 and supported track 98 (FIG. 3), against which the forward suction housing roller 95 is biased and which controls the path of the pivotally suspended for- 19 Ward suction head 81) of carriage 79, are movable about pivots 99, 1th? and 102 to the position indicated, for example, in broken lines. This structure assures the forward carriage suction head 8%) of substantially the same starting position but permits it to pivot with the severed web length in the desired angle as it arrives at the delivery position over the suction turret.

In order to detect the absence of Web material or improper feed thereof through the machine, a reciprocable feeler rod assembly 204 is cam actuated to resiliently and intermittently contact the area of web surface over an opening 2615 in the forward end of the web transfer table '75.

Referring to FIGS. 1, 2, 3 and 5, the feeler assembly 294 includes an oscillatable feeler rod 206 which is adjustably mounted on an arm Z07 loosely mounted on a shaft 2% rotatably mounted in brackets 269 and 84-. Another arm 210 is adjustably clamped to the shaft 208 face to face with loosely mounted arm 2'97. The loosely mounted arm 2117 is provided with a dowel 211 yieldingly biased by a torsion spring 212 into engagement with a portion of the fixed arm. Upon oscillating the rod assembly Ztld on shaft 2'98, if a web is disposed over the slot 295 in the table '75, the feeler rods 2% will contact same, as shown in broken lines in FIG. 5, and the fixed arm 210 will part from the arm 2&7 to which it is yieldingly coupled. However, if a web is not disposed over the opening 205, the rod 2% will pass through said slot, thereby tripping a mercury switch 213 mounted on said rod and adapted to break the motor circuit of the machine.

The foregoing operation is performed intermittently during stationary web intervals by coupling the shaft 208 to an arm 214 which is pivoted at 215 to an adjustable rod 216 pivoted at 217 to the lever 193 and roller 201 associated with cam 293.

The embodiment of the invention described and exemplified herein is only illustrative, as various modifications and equivalent constructions may be resorted to within the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A method of delivering severed lengths of tobacco Web material to a cigar envelope forming station of a cigar machine, which comprises intermittently and positively feeding a continuous web from a source of supply, positively pulling the forward portion of said web in synchronism with the feed of said web in the direction of feed at a greater speed than that of the feed and past a web severing station to stretch the web during the intermittent feed thereof, maintaining the web in stretched stationary condition between the intermittent feeds thereof, successively severing leading portions of the web between the intermittent feeds thereof and delivering said stretched and severed portions to the envelope forming station.

2. The method of serving successive severed lengths of tobacco web material to the suction beds of a wrapper die cutting turret of a cigar wrapping machine, which comprises intermittently feeding predetermined lengths of continuous web material toward a web severing station, simultaneously drawing the leading edge of the continuous web past the web severing station at a speed slightly greater than the speed of the web feed, severing the leading portion of the web between the intermittent feed and drawing movements of the web, and transferring the severed web portions during the intermittent web movement to successive suction beds of the die turret in stretched condition.

3. The method according to claim 2 in which the total length of delivered web is always maintained in stretched condition.

4. The method of delivering successive lengths of severed web tobacco material to the web serving position of a cigar envelope cutting die turret of a cigar machine, comprising intermittently feeding a continuous web toward a web severing station and synchronously and recurrently drawing successive leading portions of web past the severing station as the leading portions of the web are repeatedly severed during standstill of the web at a slightly greater speed than the speed at which it is fed whereby to stretch the web, maintaining the severed and unsevered web portions in such stretched condition throughout, and successively transferring severed web portions to the cutting die turret in stretched condition in synchronism with the intermittent web feed.

5. The method of recurrently depositing sheets of tobacco material on the wrapper cutting ies of the die turret of a cigar machine as the dies are successively indeXed in sheet serving position, comprising the recurrent steps of intermittently feeding a continuous sheet of tobacco material and synchronously drawing the sheet at a speed slightly greater than the speed of feed to maintain the sheet so fed in stretched condition, intermittently severing a leading portion of the sheet when the sheet is at standstill while maintaining the stretched condition thereof, and transferring the severed sheet portion in synchronism with the intermittent sheet feed and in stretched condition to a turret die in stationary sheet serving condition.

6. The method of claim 5 in which the sheet drawing operation is performed by drawing the leading edge of a continuous sheet.

7. The method of claim 6 in which the sheet is drawn past the severing station before severance thereof.

8. A method of continuously fabricating a series of shaped portions of tobacco web material utilizable in the manufacture of a cigar, comprising mechanically feeding successive lengths of said web from a continuous source across a flat surface and positively and simultaneously advancing said web lengths along said surface at a speed slightly greater than the feed speed to impart a stretch to said web lengths, positively and successively retaining said stretched lengths at said flat surface in an outspread condition, severing said successive lengths from said continuous source at said flat surface, positively and successively transporting said severed stretched lengths to a cutting die bed and transporting the die bed with the stretched web length positively retained on the die bed to a station for cutting a shaped portion from said web length.

9. The method of claim 8 which includes intermittently probing the surfaces of successively stretched web lengths, while said lengths are retained in outspread condition on the fiat surface, at a restricted opening in said surface, and communicating the probing movements to a web feed control whenever web material is not disposed across said surface opening.

10. In a cigar machine provided with a cutting bed having a cutting die, a table, a source of continuous tobacco web material, means to intermittently and positively feed the web onto the table, a device adapted to intermittently grip and pull the leading edge of the web in the direction of feed, means for operating said device at a speed slightly greater than the speed of feed, means for synchronizing the intermittent operation of the feed means and the device, hold-down instrumentalities to hold the web to the table between intermittent feed movements of the web, cutting means at the table to sever the leading portion of the web between intermittent feeds thereof, and a device to grip and transport the severed leading web portion to the cutting bed.

11. The combination of claim 10 in which the table includes a pair of adjacent web supporting surfaces spaced apart in the direction of web feed and the cutting means are disposed between the web supporting surfaces.

12. The combination of claim 10 in which the web pulling device and the web transporting device are coupled for synchronous operation.

13. In a cigar machine provided with a cutting bed having a cutting die, a first table, a second table spaced from said first table, a source of continuous tobacco web material, means to intermitten ly and positively feed the web onto the first table, a device adapted to intermittently grip and pull the leading edge of the web onto the second table in the direction of feed, means for operating said device at a speed slightly greater than the speed of Web feed, means for synchronizing the operation of the feed means and the Web pulling device, means in each table to hold the web to the tables between the intermittent feed movements of the web, web cutting means disposed between the tables, the cutting means being intermittently operable to sever the web in the interval between the feed movements thereof, and a device to grip a severed web portion from the second table and transfer said web portion to the cutting die, said web transfer device being intermittently operable in synchronism with the web pulling device.

14. The combination of claim 13 in which the tables are provided with suctional web holding surfaces.

15. The combination of claim 13 in which the web pulling and web transfer devices are provided with suctional web gripping surfaces.

16. The combination of claim 13 in which the tables and the web pulling and web transfer devices are provided with suctional gripping surfaces, the web pulling and Web transfer devices being reciprocable in the direction of web feed and transfer.

17. The combination of claim 10 including two cutting beds mounted on a turret, said turret being rotatably indexed to move the cutting beds from a web portion receiving station to a second station, die cutting rollers mounted for reciprocation across the cutting beds at the second station, means to transfer a die cut portion of Web from the cutting beds, a last station past which the beds are indexed, and a scavenging device at the last station to remove waste material from the beds.

18. The combination of claim 17 in which the scavenging device includes a suction nozzle connected to a source of suction, the nozzle being disposed above the turret at a level such that the cutting beds may sweep thereunder in close proximity, and a scraper mounted on the trailing edge of the nozzle and adapted to scrape waste material from the suction beds as the latter sweep past the nozzle.

19. In a cigar machine having a cutting bed provided with a cutting cie to form a shaped tobacco web product, a first suction table and a second suction table adjacent to and spaced from the first table, means for positively and intermittently feeding tobacco web material from a continuous source thereof onto the first table, a first reciprocable suction head positioned above the tables and adapted to grip a leading edge of web material and pull the web onto the second table in the direction of feed during the intermittent feed of the web, means for synchronizing the intermittent web feed and the reciprocation of the suction head and to reciprocate the suction head at a speed slightly greater than that of the web feed means, means to apply suction to the suction head and to cut off suction to the tables during the feed of the web and to apply suction to the tables and cut off suction to the suction head during the interval between successive web feeds, cutting means positioned between the tables and operatively timed to sever the leading web portion in the interval between successive web feeds, a second suction head rcciprocable over the second table and the cutting bed in synchronism with the first suction head and adapted to grip the severed web portion from the second table and transfer said web portion across the suction bed of the cutting die, means to apply suction to the second suction head during the transfer of the web and to cut off the suction in the second suction head in the interval between successive web transfers, and means to apply suction to the suction bed when the second suction head arrives over the suction bed.

20. The combination of claim 19 including die cutting rollers operatively movable along the die bed to cut a shaped portion of the web on the die bed, and transfer means having instrumentali'ties to suctionally grip the shaped Web portion and relieve the suction in the suction bed and to transport the shaped portion from the die bed.

21. The combination of claim 19 in which the second suction head is horizontally pivotable on a reciprocable carriage, and including adjustable guide means between the second suction table and the suction bed, the second suction head being reciprocable along the guide means, and said guide means being adjustable to vary the relative angularity between the second suction head and the suction bed.

22. The combination of claim 19 including a horizontally reciprocable carriage, the suction heads being 15 3 029 775 mounted on the carriage and vertically reciprocable therethe suction heads downwardly at either end of the path of reciprocation of the carriage.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,041,831 Helsel May 26, 1936 2,316,784 Gladeck Apr. 20, 1943 2,320,393 Randolph June 1, 1943 2,790,464 Stephens Apr. 30, 1957 2,837,158 Wheeler June 3, 1958 2,960,898 Wheeler Nov. 22, 1960 Nicholson Apr. 17, 1962 

1. A METHOD OF DELIVERING SEVERED LENGTHS OF TOBACCO WEB MATERIAL TO A CIGAR ENVELOPE FORMING STATION OF A CIGAR MACHINE, WHICH COMPRISES INTERMITTENTLY AND POSITIVELY FEEDING A CONTINUOUS WEB FROM A SOURCE OF SUPPLY, POSITIVELY PULLING THE FORWARD PORTION OF SAID WEB IN SYNCHRONISM WITH THE FEED OF SAID WEB IN THE DIRECTION OF FEED AT A GREATER SPEED THAN THAT OF THE FEED AND PAST A WEB SEVERING STATION TO STRETCH THE WEB DURING THE INTERMITTENT FEED THEREOF, MAINTAINING THE WEB IN STRETCHED 